Live: Stompin' Tom Connors' memorial

Everyone from Ken Dryden to governor general Adrienne Clarkson are honouring Stompin' Tom Connors Wednesday night at a public memorial planned by the singer in Peterborough. Stay with us as the Toronto Star's Linda Barnard covers this event.

The guest of honour will be brought in by RCMP honour guard and pallbearers in red serge at the Stompin' Tom Connors memorial Wednesday evening. His casket will rest beneath a huge Canadian flag on a stage at the end of the board-covered ice of the Peterborough Memorial arena. Connors, the beloved Canadian troubandor, died March 6 at age 77. Fans waited patiently to get into the arena, some arriving as early as 9 a.m. and from as far away as Sudbury.-Linda Barnard

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A fan and her flag. Rene Johnston/ Toronto Star

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Tommy Hunter and a fan. Rene Johnston/ Toronto Star

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Tissue boxes on the VIP seats. Rene Johnston/ Toronto Star

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Stompin' Tom Connors is brought to the stage one last time with his wife Lena leaving his hat on the casket. Rene Johnston/Toronto Star

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Connors is brought to the stage one last time. Rene Johnston/Toronto Star

Connors’s casket was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation as a RCMP honour guard and pallbearers, all dressed in red serge - a fitting tribute to the man who embodied Canada with every note he sang - slowly brought it onstage after the singing of the national anthem. -Linda Barnard

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Among the performers and speakers - all chosen by Connors - was Dave Bidini, Cindy Church, J.P. Cormier, Sylvia Tyson, along with former Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson and former MP and hockey hero Ken Dryden. Linda Barnard/Toronto Star

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“He was a gift to us as Canadians and I think the secret of his gift was that he knew that he was giving it" -- Adrienne Clarkson

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Sylvia Tyson and Cindy Church sang a haunting duet of Farewell to Nova Scotia, the province where Connors was born to a single teen mother. A cheer went up from the crowd as the cameras broadcasting the celebration showed country legend Tommy Hunter singing along. Linda Barnard/Toronto Star

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“He was a people’s poet., a voice for those who never found words to express themselves,” said Tyson. -Linda Barnard, Toronto Star

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A video montage plays, featuring Connors performing, posing with landmarks like the Sudbury Giant Nickel, personal moments with friends and family, talking about his life, his humble struggles to be heard and his desire to travel the world and “sing my songs about Canada.” set to “The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom.” “Hello friends,” read a message from the singer on the back of the event program.

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“I want all my fans, past, present or future to know that without you, there would not have been any Stompin’ Tom. “I must now pass the torch to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high and be the patriot Canada needs now and in the future.” -Linda Barnard

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Ken Dryden just brought the crowd to its feet with these words: “Please rise for our national hockey anthem” and “The Good Old Hockey Game” fills the Peterborough arena. -Linda Barnard

On behalf of the Connors family - Tom Connors Jr. - a lanky ringer for his famous dad speaks to the crowd. "I'm going to fly by the seat of my pants as the old man would say" as he thanks people for their support.

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Stompin' Tom's son tells audience this memorial is the first time all four Connors children have been together.

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“Hello friends,” read a message from Stompin' Tom on the back of the program for the event he helped organize in the weeks prior to his March 6 death. “I want all my fans, past, present or future to know that without you, there would not have been any Stompin’ Tom. “I must now pass the torch to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high and be the patriot Canada needs now and in the future.”

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Tom asked that the program close with his haunting "I Am the Wind" sung by Mark Laforme. A couple wraps a Canadian flag around themselves and begins to slowly dance.

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Kudos to Adrienne Clarkson for a fine, funny and heartfelt speech - the evening's best. Never thought I'd hear a G-G past or present quote "Oh the girls are out to Bingo and the boys are getting stinko." Classic - and classy.

by life3/14/2013 1:39:00 AM

The evening winds up with a rousing version of Sudbury Saturday Night and the crowd is on its feet. Good night from Peterborough and goodbye Stompin' Tom who I first saw at Western in 1978. Thanks for the memories.